KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23* — The government has revealed preliminary plans to withdraw the RON95 subsidy for the yet-to-be-defined “T15” group, according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. He addressed criticism following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's announcement about subsidy cuts for this group, admitting that the category lacks a formal definition.

Rafizi stated that proposals for defining “T15” are in progress but not finalized at the Cabinet level. He defended the timing of the announcement during the Budget presentation, emphasizing that it reflects the government's intentions. 

He noted that the RM421 billion Budget 2025, presented last Friday, aims to retarget RON95 subsidies by mid-next year, removing assistance from the “ultra-rich” T15 group. Additionally, education and healthcare subsidies for this group will also be eliminated to support national development.

Critics, including Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, questioned the lack of clarity regarding the T15 classification. In response, Rafizi explained that terms like “T15,” similar to B40, M40, and T20, represent arbitrary income brackets used to assess household wealth relative to the Malaysian population. The government's definition will consider various factors, including disposable income and living costs.